How are athletes and founders similar? How do you overcome mental challenges in a high-performance sport? What's the Olympic Village really like?

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Rosie MacLennan joins us in the studio to answer these questions and more! MacLennan won gold in trampoline at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janiero games and joined Team Canada in Paris as an Athlete Mentor in 2024.

Part of her success is the support she's received from sports psychologists and coaches, including mental performance coach and co-founder Dr. Kyle Paquette. Giving athletes access to that support earlier in their careers is the mission of her startup, Trainwave. The app is designed to help young athletes increase resilience, boost performance, and feel more confident.

Grab a coffee and listen in as we go for gold (I'm so sorry) with Rosie MacLennan.

Are you down with O.P.M. (other people's money)?

One of Communitech founder members' top questions is how to get in front of VCs. But the answer is often a question—are you sure you’re ready to raise money?

This week on the Tech About Town podcast, Vartika Manasvi and Mike Kirkup are in the studio to discuss all things fundraising. Vartika is a Senior Advisor at MaRS Discovery District and a Growth Coach at Communitech. Mike is CTO of EnPowered and Arlo and was previously the Director of UW’s Velocity incubator from 2011 to 2016.

From figuring out if you’re ready to understanding when a VC is just not into you, our Growth Coach experts share what they’ve learned as startup founders and advisors at MaRS, Communitech, and the University of Waterloo Velocity incubator.

When O.P.M. comes, damn, skippy, I'm with it.

3:30 - What are some things founders need to know about pitching to VCs

5:18 - What's happening in the Canadian and US funding environments?

6:41 - Impact of AI on the funding landscape

8:15 - Different approaches to funding for SaaS versus AI startups

12:27 - Data residency and international regulations in for AI startup founders

13:35 - Comparison between Canadian and US venture capital practices

15:06 - Canadian vs. US venture capital: risk-taking differences

17:08 - Strategies for Canadian founders to compete internationally

19:00 - What's behind the increasing trend of Canadian founders setting up Delaware Corporations

23:15 - How do you know when you're ready to go after funding?

45:01 - Overview of Communitech's programs and membership benefits

Class is in session with Rosie Del Campo, Communitech's Senior Corporate Communications Manager. Rosie leads our external and internal communications efforts and uses her experience to help founders navigate the ins and outs of public relations.

Before joining Communitech, Rosie was a journalist at CTV News Kitchener for over a decade. At CTV, she served in various roles, including anchor, co-host, producer, and the anchor for CTV News at Six.

⁠⁠In this episode, Rosie takes us on a deep dive into what founders need to know about public relations. She answers questions like what makes a good news story, how to pitch it to journalists, and what her namesake dish at Ennio's would be.

I wanted to name this episode "Film at 11 with Rosie Del Campo", but I was told Millennials and Gen Z would not get the reference.

There is also an ad for Tech Jam on Nov. 13 at Bingemans. If you're looking for great tech talent, email ⁠[email protected]⁠ to connect with our team and learn how you can get involved.

Don’t count downtown out just yet.

This week on Tech About Town, Cory Bluhm, Executive Director of Economic Development for the City of Kitchener, joins the podcast to discuss the exciting developments and ongoing transformations happening across Downtown Kitchener. 

From the challenges of the pandemic to the rise of new businesses and community spaces, Cory shares his unique perspective on the city's journey to becoming a vibrant and dynamic urban center that's become a model across North America.

We also debate what the best cocktail is in DTK and it’s Coffee and Cigarettes at the Grand Trunk Saloon because I write the show notes. 

Learn about the history, current initiatives, and vision for the future shaping Kitchener’s downtown core. Whether you're a local or just a fan of urban revitalization, this episode offers insights into how economic development strategies are making a difference in Kitchener.

Going to a cocktail party and scared someone will ask you about quantum technologies? We've got you covered.

On this episode of Tech About Town, Dr. Paul Terry and Jessica Hodgson from Photonic join us for a deep dive into quantum information and computing and the diverse careers available in this cutting-edge field.

Recorded right after one of our Communitech Breakfast Series events, our guests shared their perspectives on Canada's untapped quantum talent pool and the importance of nurturing quantum education from an early age.

We didn't even make one Schrödinger's Cat reference the whole time.

Dr. Terry and Jessica answer our quantum questions, such as what superposition is, how quantum tunnelling works, and whether Ant-Man 3 could really happen. (Okay, we didn't ask that last one, but Alex wanted to.)

Discover how quantum technology is already integrated into our daily lives and learn about the wide range of skills that quantum companies will be looking for—could you be a fit? I guess until you apply, you both have the job and don't have the job. Is that a superposition?

Let us know what you think on social media!

When it comes to applying to an accelerator like Google for Startups Accelerator, MedReddie’s Kara Leblanc says you just have to go for it. Kara should know. The startup recently completed the Google for Startups Accelerator and is an alum of the Communitech Fierce Founders program.

On this episode of Tech About Town, Kara discusses MedReddi’s awesome growth and its recently announced $782,000 pre-seed round.  Founded in 2020, MedReddie bridges the gap between healthcare providers and medtech suppliers, saving valuable time and resources that help medical providers focus on patient care.

Iran Karimian, the Canadian Lead for the Google for Startups Accelerator Program (GFSA), joins in on the conversation to share how the program has supported over 100 Canadian companies, helping them raise more than $395 million CAD.

Grab a coffee and join us for a deep dive into the world of healthcare innovation and startup acceleration.

Navigating career paths isn't what it used to be.

On this episode of the Tech About Town podcast, Marianne Bulger, Partner at True Executive Search, joins us to discuss how to succeed in today's tech market and the unique challenges and opportunities for tech leaders that come with bringing diverse perspectives to the table.

Marianne shares her insights on the importance of cultural alignment, leadership, and a willingness to learn and adapt within tech companies. We also discuss the critical traits of resilience and adaptability in job seekers and hiring candidates.

Last but not least, Marianne offers some valuable advice on making the most out of LinkedIn.

Communitech President and CEO Chris Albinson joins us for a stream-of-consciousness discussion covering everything from the rapid growth of technologies like generative AI and quantum computers to the importance of ethics and governance in private-sector technology companies.

We also take a look at our community's rapid population growth—an estimated one million people by 2050—and the challenges that come with it, including the need for infrastructure development and affordable housing.

A lot has changed in the Waterloo Region tech ecosystem over the last 25 years.

That includes Communitech, too. On our first episode of the Tech About Town podcast, Alison Vreeswyk, SVP of Marketing and Business Development and Joel Semeniuk, Chief Strategy Officer, join us to talk about where the ecosystem has been and where it's going.

We also dig into Communitech's new three-year strategy and what we're doing to help Waterloo Region founders succeed in Canada and around the world.